Colorware

Apple products are well known for their elegant, innovative designs. But, aside from the rainbow array that the new nanos come in, our friends in Cupertino haven’t really taken any chances in the color department lately. Sure, the new all-aluminum laptops look fantastic, but at the same time—well, they’re all just kind of… gray. Lucky for you, Colorware can step in and turn your Apple gear (and practically any other gadget) any color in the rainbow.

Apple design + vibrant metal-flake colors = a whole bunch of awesome!

The best way to take advantage of Colorware’s services is to order a new product directly from them (so that you don’t have to do without while your stuff gets a makeover). The color itself is applied as a polymer-based coating, which requires a warranty-voiding system teardown. Thankfully Colorware replaces your new device’s warranty with a warranty of its own. If you’d like to color an existing product, you place your order online and ship them your gear. Prices vary, depending on the size and complexity of the coloring job—a single color on a MacBook starts at $450; an iPhone color job will run $150 and up.

In our tests, Colorware’s service was quick and easy. The two-color metal-flake finish on our aging MacBook was brilliant enough that we’re putting off plans to replace it. Unfortunately, the trackpad button on our laptop was slightly damaged upon return, but Colorware’s customer service took care of the repair quickly and courteously—although that did require us sending it back to Colorware a second time.

If your electronics need a dash of color, Colorware is a classier option than a bunch of Web 2.0 stickers. It’s a spendy way to customize your Mac—but, damn, the results look good!